Liquid fuel burner and thermal control valve therefor



1944- J. 1.. BREESE 2,355,417

' LIQUID FUEL BURNER AND THERMAL CONTROL VALVE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 18,1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l jfiyefifar 17477265 lfireese 1944- .].L. BREESE2,355,417

LIQUID FUEL BURNER AND THERMAL CONTROL VALVE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 18,1941 3 Sheets-SheetZ Patented Aug. 8, 1944 mum FUEL BURNER-AND THERMALcomaor. vALva 'rm-zanroa James LBreese, Santa Fe, N. Men, assignor -toOil Devices, Santa I'e nership of Illinois N. Mex., a limited part-Application September is, 1941, Serial No. 411,329 6 Claims. (01.158-91) My invention relates to an improvement in hydrocarbon burnersand has for one purpose to provide a burner for burning liquidhydrocarbon fuels which shall be simple, economical and ellicient inoperation. I

Another purpose is to provide improved means for supplying a burnerthrough a single passage or inlet member with all 01- the air necessaryto support the primary combustion of the fuel.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for regulating or cuttingoil the fuel supply in response to'heat conditions. a g

Another purpose is to provide means for adlusting such regulating oronion! feature.

. Other purposes will appear from timeto time in the course of'thespecification.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagramfurther variant form; Md

g. '6 is an enlarged section taken on the line of Fig. 5. I Like partsare indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings;

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates a combustion chamber,herein shown in the form of a drum, having a bottom or base pcrtion sand, if desired, a bottom body 8 of fire brick or the like, of anysuitable material.

It will-be understood that the burner may be applied to a wide varietyof heaters, furnaces and the like. I illustrate it, however, inconnection with a water boiler 5 having a central flue passage I. Iemploy a single air and fuel inlet member having an outer portion I,herein shown as vertical, and with an open top, or any other suitablemeans for admitting air. It has a horizontal portion I, which extendsinwardly through the wall of the member i, and is hereinshown asterminating in adownward elbow ll axially aligned with the flue passageI.

Referring specifically tothe form of Fig. l, 1 illustrate fuel supplymeans in the form of an lnlet'passage II from any suitable source offuel not herein shown, which communicates, as at l2,

with the bottom of the passage 9 and delivers a flow of liquid fuelalong the bottom of the passage 9. Any suitable valve means may be em- I1 is a vertical axial section of the burnerf ma' in the accompanyingdrawings wherej ployed ror controlling or varying the flow of fuel.

I illustrate a conventional valve it, but it will be understood that anycontrol meansmay be emgloyled, such as float chambers familiar in thisIt will be understood that the parts are so proportioned that all of theprimary air necessary for combustion is supplied by' means or thepassage 1 to the portion oi the passage I where the' liquid fuel flows,the inlet passage being of substantially greater capacity than isnecessary for the mere supply of the liquid fuel to be burned.

Any suitable means may be employed for delivering secondary air to thespace within the drum I. I illustrate, for example, inlii'g. 2 inletpassages il and II, which unite at' the union or neck II and deliveroutside air to'the head II, with its air'discharge apertures ll. Thus,adequate secondary air is supplied for the mixture of primary air andvaporized liquid hydrocarbon which is discharged from the downturned endIQ of the passage 9. a

Referring to Fig. 4, I illustrate aiorm of Iris control which includesan adjustable Invar 20, secured to the'hot end of the passage I, at

' the outer end of the downwardly turned portion ll. I may employ anysuitable adjusting means, but I illustrate the rod II as screw threadedat its end, as at H, toreceive adjusting and locking nuts 22. The rod isshown with a generally conic valve tip 23, opposed to a valve seat 24 atthe end of an inwardly extendingfuel inlet II. This fuel inlet mayitselibe adjustable, being screw threaded, as'at 28, in relation tothefixed outer end wall 21 of the passage Q. 2| is any suitable collarsurrounding and'locked to the outer ,end of the passage 9 and supportinga stufl'ing box 29 for the end of the fuel supply line III. II is ahandle adapted for the convenlent rotation oi the member 2!, whereby thevalve may be exteriorlyadjusted.

It will be understood that the tube] is ex-.

posed to substantial heat, and when it expands under heat, it opens oilflow by unseating the needle valve 23 from the seat 24. 'Itwillbeunderstood, of course, that any additional oil flow control means may beemployed, manual or auto matic, such as the conventional float-valve.

Referring to Figs. Sand 6, I illustrates safety device which may beapplied tovor employed with I the form of any of the above describedfigures. The bucket arm 40 carries a bucket I, aligned with the deliveryend of the tube or nozzle 0. The spring 46 is effective normally to holdthe bucket arm and bucket in the full line positon of Fig. as long asthe bucket is empty. The delivcry of a predetermined quantity of liquidfuel to the bucket I! is sufficient to overcome the tension the springll and cause the arm and bucket to fall to the dotted line position ofFig. 5. v

Associated with the inner end of the arm 4. is the worm 4i, rotatableinthe nut 42, on the fuel pipe as, which is mounted in the stuffing box2!. The worm 4| terminates at its inner end in a valve element It,herein shown as conic. It is opposed to a valve seat 44 in communicationwith the liquid fuel line Ila. It will be understood that the parts areso proportioned and the pitch of the worm is such that, when the bucket45 and armn min the full line position of Fig. 5, the valve 0 is in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 8,

permitting the liquid fuel to flow from the liquid fuel supply line Ilainto the fixed fuel pipe Illa and thence into the member ll, which isscrew threadedor otherwise adiustablymounied, as, at II, in relation tothe outer end of the tube 0.

It will be realized that, whereas Ihave described and illustrated apractical and operative device,

- matic, rather than as limiting me to my precise The use and operationof my invention are as follows:

I provide a heating device in which a liquid fuel, such as liquidhydrocarbon, may be burned.

I have illustrated my device in connection with a structure suitable fora hot water heater, but it will be understood that I may app y it tospace heaters, furnaces, or the like, or any other heating means. I

Basically. I employ an inlet passage of substantially greater capacitythan is necessary for the mere supply of a liquid fuel to be burned. Inall forms of my, device I illustrate the air inlet passage 1 ofsubstantial cross sectional area, which may receive air at its open topor end and deliver the air inwardly along the passage is The liquid fuelis admitted either by the junction of the liquid fuel line H with thebottom of the passage I or else through the oil inlet tube 2! and pastthe valve 23. As a substantial length of the passage is subjected to theheat of combustion 2,sss,417

ary air as to maintain a zone of combustion directly adJacent thepassage 9,. It, so that the liquid fuel is properly vaporized and theprimary mixture superheated.

I may employ any suitable means for controlling the rate of fuel flowinwardly along the lines I I or 80.,As float chambers and the like arewell known in the art, I am not indicating any particular means in thedrawings.

I find it" advantageous to provide meansfor H cutting ed the supply of.fuel, which means is efl'ective bothwhen the flame is extinguished andwhen for any reasontoo much liquid fuel passes the valve 23, which lastcondition may arise from adjustment or mal-adiushnent or the variousvalves.

In other words, two valve means are provided, one of which is directlycontrolled by the bucket II and itscontrolling lever, and the other bythe Invar rod II and its cooperation with the passage member I. Q

' As illustrated in l ig. 4, I provide anInvar rod II and a valve memberwhich is opposed to a valve seat 24 'on the oil inlet 2|, the Invar rodbeing adiustably mounted on the'paasage member 0. When the burner iscool, no oil can pass by the valve II. In other words, to start theburner oil would have to be bypassed around the valve 28 in sumcientquantity partially to fill the bucket ll, which would then shut off thesupply through the stem 4 I. As soon as the liquid fuel in the cup llhasburned away, the cup will raise and open the valve II. In themeantime, however, the tube I, having expanded, will "open the If ,theadjustment of the various valves is such that too much liquid fuelpasses the valve member within the member I, the area through which themixture of primary air and liquid fuel flows is particular situationnatural draft is not sumcient,

I may employ a motor-driven fan, or other suitable means not hereinshown. I

I Fuel is supplied in sufilcient volume to' maintain a fire which willsubject the passage member 0 to a temperature sui'ilcient to vaporizethe liquid fuel and to superheat the final mixture. When the mixtureescapes from the downturned end It of the passage 9, it receivessuiiicient secondary air in the space defined by the drum I to produce28, it will then drop down into the bucket I5 and shut off any furthersupply until the liquid fuel in the bucket has been burned.

If the flame is extinguished, both safety devices come into play. By thecontraction of the tube I, the valve 23 is closed. But should this notclose fast enough and a certain amount of liquid enters the .cup orbucket 4|, then the bucket drops to the dotted line position of Fig. 5and closes the master valve 4|.

I claim:

inlet pipe extending generally horizontally a substantial distance intothe chamber at a level intermediate the top and bottom of the chamberand terminating in a discharge end, said air inlet pipe having anexterior air inlet portion adapted to admitoutside air for movementthrough the pipe and into the burner chamber, a liquid fuel pipe, ofsubstantially smaller diameter than the air inlet pipe, in'communicationwith the interior of the air inlet pipe, at a point substantiallyheatioi' combustion in the, Iii-outside connection for liquid fuel pipeof substantially smaller diameter 7 element and having 0.

spaced from the discharge end of the air inlet pipe, and means forcontrolling the how of liquid fuel through said fuel pipe and into theair inlet pipe, the bottom of the air inlet pipe being generallyhorizontal, the liquid fuel being in contact with the bottom of said airinlet pipe, and the air inlet pipe being directly subjected to the heatof combustion taking place within the burner chamber.

2. In combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a burner chamber, and fluemeans therefor, an air inlet pipe extending generally horizontally asubstantial distance into the chamber at a level intermediate the topand bottom of the chamber and terminating in a discharge end, said airinlet pipe having an exterior air inlet portion adapted to admit outsideair for movement through the pipe and into the burner chamber, a liquidfuel pipe, of substantially smaller diameter than the air inlet pipe,,incommunication with the interior of the air inlet pipe, at a pointsubstantially spaced from the discharge end of the air inlet pipe, andmeans for controlling the flow of liquid fuel through said fuel pipe andinto the air inlet pipe, including a fixed valve element, and an Invarrod secured to the air inlet pipe and having a valve portion opposed tosaid fixed valve element, the bottom of the air inlet pipe beinggenerally horizontal to cause a relatively slow flow of the liquid fuel'therealong, in contact with the bottom of said air inlet pipe, and theair inlet pipe being directly subjected to the heat of combustion takingplace within the burner chamber.

3. In combination, a combustion chamber-and fiue means therefor, an airinlet passage element 4 extending a substantial distance into thecombustion chamber, and subjected directly to the heat of combustion inthe combustion chamber, an outside connection for said air passage, aliquid fuel pipe of substantially smaller diameter than the air inletpassage in communication with the interior of the air inlet passage, anormally fixed valve element for the pipe and'an Invar rod normallyfixed in relation to the air inlet passage element and having a valvemember at one end thereof adapted to be opposed to said normally fixedvalve element, the length of the air inlet passage element between saidfixed valve element and theinner end of the passage, along which thefuel which passes said valve flows, being sumcient in relation to thecross sectional area of the passage element to permit the vaporizationof said liquid fuel in the interior of said air inlet passage, inresponse to the heat to which the passage is subjected. 4. Incombination, a combustion chamber and means therefor, an air inletpassage element extending a substantial distance into the combustionchamber, and subjected directly to the combustion chamber, said airpassage, a

than the airinlet passage in communication with the interior of the airinlet passage, a normally fixed valve element for the pipe and an Invarrod normally fixed in relation to the air inlet passage valve member atone end thereof adapted to be opposed to said normally fixed valveelement, the length of the air inlet passage element between said fixedvalve element and the inner end of the passage, along which the fuelwhich passes said valve flows, being sufllcient in relation to the crosssectional area of the passage element to permit the vaporization of saidliquid fuel in the interior of said air'inlet passage, in response tothe heat to which the passage is subjected, and means for adjusting saidnormally fixed valve element toward and away from said valve member.

5. In combination, a combustion chamber and flue means therefor, an airinlet passage element extending a 'substantial'distance into thecombustion chamber, and subjected directly to the heat of combustion inthe combustion chamber, an outside connection for said air passage, aliquid fuel pipe of substantially smaller diameter a than the air inletpassage in communication with the interior of the air inlet passage, anormally. I

fixed valve element for the pipe and an Invar rod normally fixed inrelation to the air inlet passage element and having a valve member atone end thereof adapted to be opposed to said normally fixed valveelement, the length of the air, inlet passage element between said fixedvalve element and the inner end of the passage, along which thefuelwhich passes said valve flows, being sufficient in relation to the crosssectional area of thepassage element to permit the vaporization of saidliquid fuel in the interior of said air inlet passage, in response tothe heat to which the passage is subjected, and additional means forcutting of! 85 or reducing the fuel flow upon the delivery to the burner01' an excess of liquid fuel.

6; In combination, a combustion chamber and flue means therefor, an airinlet passage element extending a substantial distance into thecombustion chamber, and subjected directly to the heat ofcombustion inthe combustion chamber, an outside connection for said air passage, aliquid fuel pipe of substantially smaller" diameter than the air inletpassage in communication with the interior of the air inlet passage, anormally fixed valve element for the pipe and an Invar rod normallyfixed in relation to the air inlet passage element and having a valvemember at one end thereof adapted to be opposed to said. normally fixedvalve element, the length of the air inlet passage element between saidfixed valve element and the inner end of the passage, along which thefuel which passes said valve flows, being sufllcient in relation to thecross sectional area of the passage element to permit the vaporizationof said liquid fuel in the interior of said airinlet passage, inresponse to the heat to which the passage is subjected, and additionalmeans for cutting of! or reducing the fuel fiow upon the delivery to theburner 01' an excess of liquid fuel, including bucket means adaptedtoreceive excess liquid fuel, said bucket means being adjacent andbeneath the discharge end of the air inlet passage element, and a valvein said liquid fuel pipe, and an actuating connection between said valveand said bucket means.

James L. BREESE.

